The suspension of The Star Entertainment’s Sydney casino license has been extended until June 30, 2027, a decision announced by the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC). On Friday, the NICC cited persistent concerns about the company's governance, leadership, and corporate culture as reasons for the extension.
This decision ensures that manager Nick Weeks will continue leading the casino, allowing it to maintain its gaming operations during the period of the license suspension.
NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford recognized the strides The Star has made but stressed that serious questions remain regarding the necessary improvements in governance and culture essential for the casino’s return to operating under its own license.
"There is no doubt that The Star has come a long way in addressing the matters which led to the suspension of its casino license in 2022," Crawford stated.
He expressed disappointment that despite the progress achieved, The Star's overall company continues to face issues impacting all its properties. "The NICC will be watching carefully to see how The Star and The Star Entertainment Group resolve these issues. Both companies need to demonstrate to the NICC that they have learned from past mistakes and can resolve these cultural issues without the need for the NICC’s intervention," he said.
Crawford emphasized that it is ultimately The Star's responsibility to prove its commitment to remediation efforts that will ensure lasting changes.
The license suspension extension comes nearly four years after The Star lost its independent operating rights in October 2022 following the findings from the Bell inquiry, during which it was fined AU$100 million (approximately $70,286). Since that time, the NICC has regularly extended the suspension while Weeks has remained in charge of managing the casino under external supervision.
The Star has been working on a remediation program that involves compliance, risk management, ethics, and senior management reforms. In a statement from March 2025, Commissioner Crawford noted progress but raised concerns about "ongoing uncertainty surrounding its finances," which could hinder quicker advancements.
The NICC has also highlighted unresolved issues regarding key leadership positions, including the results of ongoing civil proceedings initiated by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) in the Federal Court. These proceedings resulted in Australia’s Federal Court finding that two former senior executives of The Star Entertainment Group breached the Corporations Act 2001 by failing to manage and report risks related to money laundering and criminal activities.
Crawford reiterated that these issues must be resolved before the NICC can consider lifting The Star’s license suspension, emphasizing that it could happen if the casino successfully demonstrates that its remediation efforts are genuinely integrated into its operations.
The suspension will remain in place until the Commission is assured that the necessary reforms are both firmly established and sustainable. Meanwhile, Weeks continues to oversee the situation surrounding Sydney’s prominent casino license. Earlier this year, the NICC reported that both Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney incurred a combined fine of AU$2.25 million ($1.61 million) after a 16-year-old accessed their gaming floors using fraudulent identification.
